Match box and striking device



Nov. 13, 1934.

H. GREVE HATCH BOX AND STRIKING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 12 WITNESSES 7 1 Ewedmohhhwna Grave ATTORN EYS Nov. 13, 1934. F. H. GREVE amen BOX AND STRIKING DEVICE Filed June 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR Fi wdmch/ Jfcmna Greve BY W ATTOR N EYS? WITNESSES Patented Nov. 13, 1934 i UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE- v 6 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar lighters and has for an object .to provide an improved construction which may be readily carried in the pocket, and which when in use functions to strike and hold for a short time and then eject a match.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cigar lighter which utilizes matches of a desired size in an enclosure which is substantially moisture proof so that ready striking of the match may take place when the device is caused to function.

,A further object, more specifically, is to provide a cigar lighter capable of striking and holding for a short time a match when lit, the structure being such that it may be quickly and easily operated and the lighted match held for substantially any desired length of time and then ejected.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a cigar lighter, disclosing an embodiment of the invention; I

Figure 2 is a sectional view through Figure 1 approximately on the line 2-2, but illustrating the lid or cover in place;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the complete cigar lighter ready for use, and illustrating a window used to expose the matches while they are in the magazine;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 55;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 6-6;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure '7 on the line 77;

Figure 8 is an end view of the structure shown in Figure 1, the same illustrating the discharge opening for the lighted match;

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view through- Figure 1 approximately on the line 9-9;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view through Figure 1 on the line 10-10;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the discharge roller and associated parts shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numeral, 1 indicates a casing which may be of any desired size, for instance, the full sized device may be the same as illustrated in Fig. 4,

or larger or smaller, as desired. However, it is intended that the entire device be small enough to be readily carried in the pocket without inconvenience. The casing is provided with a door 2 which is hinged in any desired manner by a suitable hinge 3 to the top 4 of the casing 1. This door is provided with a transparent section 5 so that the interior of the casing may be inspected and particularly that part which may be called a magazine for the matches 6. The door 2' is also provided with an extension 7 which conforms to the shapeof the top 4 and fits into a suitable opening therein so that when the door is closed the extension 7 may strike the end 8 of the catch 9 and depress the same, as shown in Figure 3. This extension is provided with a looped member 10 adapted to be engaged by the catch 11 so that the door will beheld closed normally. The extension portion 12 of the catch 11 projects a very short distance beyond the casing and, therefore, does not interfere with the proper use of the device. Whenever desired the catch may be released and the door 2 opened to replenish the supply of matches or for the purpose of inspection. The various parts of the casing may be soldered or connected together in any desired manner so as to provide a substantially moisture-proof casing and, naturally, there are provided slight openings in the end for the catch as just mentioned, and also a discharge opening as shown in Figures 1 and 8.

Interiorly of the casing there is provided a platform 13 on which the various' matches 6 rest and along which they slide, the movement being caused by the follower 14 actuated by the respective springs 15. A looped member 16 is arranged at a suitable place to coact with the catch 9 to hold the same against the action of springs 15 when the magazine is being loaded. From Figure 3 it will be seen that when the springs 15 are functioning some of the matches. will be forced to the position shown at the upper-part of Fig. 3, passing through what may be termed an areshaped passageway 17. This arc-shaped passageway is formed by part of the top 4 which is thickened at 18 and 19, along the thickened parts there being provided stationary tubular members 20, 21 and 22, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 10. Between the stationary member 21 and the members 20 and 22 are arranged rotatable wheels 23 and 24, each of said wheels having a cutaway portion 25, as shown in Figure 3. These wheels are all rigidly secured to the shaft 26 which extends through the casing, the wheels, the members 20, 21 and 22 and certain other parts, as shown particularly in Figure 1. The gear wheel 2'7 is rigidly secured to shaft 26 and also a small gear 28. The gear wheel 27 continually. meshes with the small sized gear 29, while the small; gear 28 continually meshes with the rack 30, a,s-shown in Figure 2. The rack 30 has a pin 32 which lever is pivotally mounted at 35 on the casing the slot 36. The rough v ened end 37 is provided on the lever. 34 so. thatv 1 and extends through 5 it maybe readily engaged bythe thumb and caused to swing thelength of the slot 36 against the action of the retractile spring 39. I I 1 The parts are normally in the position sho in Figure 1, but when it is desired to operate the ever 341:} swung over to the oppositeend of slot 3'6 the-rack v tom'ove mason sequently rotate the small I, of a revolution, addition, as the small gearwheel 28 andithe, large geargwheel 21 are both secured to'shaft 26, all these parts'will rotate 29. As there is one match in groove 40, as shown .20 in .Figure 3, half a revolution of the gear wheel 2'9 .will. swingthe match in the groove 40 to the I the same." It will. be understood that the gear wheel '29'is rigidly secured to shaft 41 which in turn is rigidly secured to the cylinder 42, which cylinder carries the groove; t From Figure 11 .it, will be observed that cyl inder 42 is not only provided with groove 40 but with-a cutaway portion 43, a'reduced end 44, a notch. .45 having an abutment or wall 46, a cam surface 47, and aneiecting shoulder 48.{ From Figures 1 and 8 it' will also be noted that. the casing 1 is provided with an: opening 49 which has an overhanging. member 50 formed with a f curved surface 51 acting to guide the match as i it moves to the position shown in dottedlines in Figure 1. The casing 1 is also provided with a cam; 52 against which the end of one of the 'fmatches 6 strikes, .asshown in dotted lines in Figure 8,.so that as thematch is urged by the cam 4'1itwil1 begin to'swing out to the position shown ,inFig'ure Land finally arri t the position shown 1 in Figure.10.' ,Itwill-bejhel s e v holding. the leverf34 against the end- 53, but as soon as this lever is released spring 39 will 'quickly restore the parts to the position shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and, consequently, the walls of notch 45 will swing the end of the match over a and cause the same to be ejected. As'above stated, one of the matches is in the groove 40 normally, so that when the device is in the po- 1 sition shown in Figures 1 to 3, the head 54 of the match 6' will. be in the cutaway portion 43 of the cylinder 42. In addition, the head will be resting against the abrading surface formed by is the ring 55 which is secured to the rotating hub 56 (Figure 9) by any desired. means as,";fori,in-. g e g e pring-29 and associated parts, the wheels 20 and,

1 thereto. The hub 56 is loosely mountedjonshaft stance, by being molded; thereon or cemented ou 41,.but gear wheel 29, as shown in Figure 9,

'-' rigidly secured to this shaft, said gear wheel having 'a hub57 on which a catch 58 (Fig. l) is pivotally .mounted, This catch is pressed by j spring 59 so that the protuberance 60 thereof as will fit behind the pin 61 carried by the hub 56. 'By reason of this construction when the gear wheel 29-is caused to rotate half a revolution or -more or less, the abrading wheel'55 is caused to quickly rotate the same amount. However, im-

' mediately before the match 6 begins to swing a to the dotted position'shown in Figure 1, the extension 60 oi catch 59will be swung away from pin 61, thus freeing the abrasive ring 55. A coil I spring 62 has one end secured to the hub 56 and '75 the other. end to the casing 1, as shown in Figciated parts back to their former position. device the roughened end 37 is pressedv and the shown inFigure 5. The end 60 of thecatch59 -is such that when it moves back it will=slidegover T 'jtli'eipinBO and catchbehind the same-as shown se whe 28,110.: h .1.

and, consequently, the wheels 23 and[24 .wili ro- 1 tatefor partof a revolution and so will gear wheel j position shown'in-rFigure 10, and finally eject ih thispc i n by S xhowever,:;-is= h same f d whether i the hub is rotated thmh'ghithe action 9 l et. it will wind the spring showcase:

. qaent1v..a's soon as the beveled-end 63 .strikes the .cmn-DE-flmltment 64. said carnxor abutmentwill ride along-: the inclinedsurface of the-cam 63 and ing-the catch so that it will become disen- Y gaged from the-pin dl, thus permitting the wound spring 62- toquickly' rotatethe ring 55 and asso- The reverse movement is stopped byan'abu ment;65 striking the opposite side-biwaiiiifil as mr' u. It will be notedjthat'the head '54 e of the match Biand the abrasive ring 55-w'ill move a the amef until ef r the match hegins ,.its swinging mo em Immediat v be ore :thism eiae t, '55. quickly rotates in a reverse direction nsequently,

rubs against the head 54 andtherebyicahses the the match is swung to the dotted positionjshown in Figure 1, and is later on swung to a further outer position, as shown in Figure 10'. It will be understood that all this ac'tion,,takes place very rapidly, namely, in substantially the time taken H to swing the lever fronrythenposition-.shown in,

Figure 1 to the position shownby theshquid'er lover a second time to secure 'asecondjinatchim which will be properly ignited. The abrasivering 3 maybe of any desired material and, consequentf-f ly, will abrade any kind of a match head. Under some circumstances it is desired to use safety matches and when thisis the case the ring 55 must. be made of a material which .will coact with". the; head toignite the same when the ring rubsaa 'gainst thehead The action of thejdevice,

not safety 'matchesfareu'sed or'bther types of matches. Y Y I As shown in Figure 3, the device is ready to operate and strike and ejecta match as the cylinder 42 moves in the direction-of the arrow 66; The groove 40 will naturally movearound opposite the opening 67 through which the match is discharged, and in order to prevent the springs 55 from crowding the matches through'the passageway 17 the respective wheels 20 and 22 will rotate as indicated by the arrow 68, thereby hold-. 330 ing back the matches. However, when the cylinder-42 moves back under the action of the;

'22 2 will.; also riidv'e. back to the position shownin' v Figure 3,;thu's. causing the cutaway part25 to come oppositea the "matches and allowing the I claim: i 1. A cigar lighter of the character described,

comprising a casing, means forming the casing cylinder, means coacting with the cylinder and engaging one end of a matchcarried thereby for same to ignite. 'Almost' immediately after it has i become ignited, or during the first igniting 'actio'n, v.

matches to move. until. .one enters the groove'40. I I I swinging the match so that one end will protrude through said opening, and means for abrading the head of the match immediately before it is swung through said opening.

2. A cigar lighter including a casing adapted to receive a supply of matches, an arc-shaped guiding structure, means for forcing matches into and through said guiding structure, a rotatably mounted roller having a groove positioned in line with said guiding structure so that a match may be forced therein when the groove is in registry with the guiding structure, manually actuated means for rotating said roller for approximately I half a revolution, said casing having an opening adjacent said roller, means engaging the butt end of the match in said groove when said roller is rotated for swinging the match through said opening, the butt end of the match remaining substantially stationary and the match swinging through the arc of a circle, and a rapidly rotating member caused to function substantially at the time said match begins to swing for abrading the head of the match so that the match will be ignited immediately before it passes through said opening.

3. A lighter comprising a casing having an opening at one end formed with an overhanging guiding lip and a cam, a roller formed with a groove extending the full length thereof, means for forcing a match into said groove so that the butt thereof will be in line with said cam, manually actuated means for rotating said drum so as to move the match in the groove until the butt thereof strikes said cam, and then swings the match as the same is further rotated by said drum until the head of the match protrudes through said opening, and spring actuated abrading means functioning to abrade the head of said match as it starts to swing through said opening, whereby the head of the match will be ignited and burning as it passes through said opening.

4. A lighter of the character described including a casing, meansfor swinging a match in the casing, a rotating abrasive wheel for abrading the head of the match immediately before it is swung out of the casing, a spring connected with said wheel, means for winding said spring, a catch for normally preventing unwinding of the spring, a cam positioned in the path of movement of said catch for swinging the catch to nonfunctioning position to release said spring immediately before the head of the match starts to swing, and manually actuated means for causing said catch and the means for swinging, the match in the casing to function simultaneously.

5. A lighter of the character described, including a match ejecting cylinder, means for feedin one match at a time to said cylinder, means coacting with the cylinder to swing a match on its butt until the head protrudes from one end of the device, and an abrading member functioning immediately before the match begins to swing, said abrading member abrading the head of the match so that as it swings out of the device it will be ignited, and a manually actuated lever for causing said abrading member, the cylinder and the feeding means to the cylinder to function in the order mentioned.

6. A lighter including a casing having an opening at one end, a roller arranged adjacent said opening, said roller having a groove therein for receiving a match, means for feeding one match ata time into said groove, rotatable means for preventing the matches from pressing against said roller, a shaft secured to said roller, a second shaft secured to the rotatable means for preventing the matches from pressing against the roller, a gear wheel rigidly secured to the last mentioned shaft, a second gear wheel of the same size as the first mentioned gear wheel rigidly secured to the first mentioned shaft and meshing with the other gear wheel, a third gear secured to one of said shafts, a rack connected with said third gear, a manually actuated lever connected with said rack and provided to be swung for pulling the rack in one direction, a retractile spring connected with said lever for pulling the lever in the opposite direction, means coacting with said roller for swinging a match through said opening when the roller is rotated approximately half a revolution, and an abrading member for causing the head of said match to be ignited immediately before it passes through said opening.

FRIEDRICH HANNS GREVE. 

